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I J; LQMQKAY. DEYIGBI'OR REMOVING DUST PROM STORE SERVICE.

Patent ed Dec. 12, 1893 74117265363. fzoc/i'm".

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No. 510,872. Patented Dec. 12,1893.-

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. J. L. MoKAY. DEVIGE FOR REMOVING DUST FROM STORE SERVIGE.

No. 510,872. Patente d Dec. 12, 1893.

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Uivrrnn STATES PATENT Omens.

JOHN L. MOKAY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A' SSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM H. LYNN, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR REMOVING DUST FROM STORE-SERVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,872, dated December 12, 1893. Application filed December 20, 1892. Serial No. 455,760. (No model-l To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN L. MOKAY, of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Bemoving Dust from Store-Service, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for automatically wiping or cleaning the rails or rods of overhead cash or parcel carrier-systems in stores and the object which I have in view is to provide a brushing or wiping device adapted to operate over the track in the same manner and with the same force as the carriers or baskets themselves and which will efiectually clean the tracks of all dust settling thereon.

Heretofore much inconvenience has been caused customers and clerks in stores by the dropping of large quantities of dust from the overhead tracks, the same first collecting and then being precipitated by any sudden jar or puff of wind. During the twelve years that cash and parcel carriers have been in successful use, thousands of dollars worth of dry goods and other merchandise havebeen ruined by fine dust falling from the tracks upon the goods upon the counters or shelves. The dust collects upon the rails gradually until the quantity of dust becomes so heavy as to be easily dislodged by a slight jar whereupon it will descend in a very noticable cloud or shower. At some seasons of the year these showers of dust are of very frequent occurrence, taking place every few weeks and as they are unlooked for they cause great damage. All attempts to keep the tracks clean by hand-work, upon them have proved so expensive and annoying that such work has been practically abandoned and in many stores where the finer goods are sold the storeservice has been entirely removed after a short use on account of the great damage done to the stock by these'periodical showers of dust from the overhead tracks. To obviate this difficulty I have conceived the idea of providing a small device which may be passed over all of the tracks before the store is opened in the morning and which will wipe the tracks thoroughly so that the service may be used throughout the day without fear of dust-dainage to even the finest fabrics. I prefer to make the wiper distinct from the cash carrier or receptacle though a single carrier could, if desired, be fitted with brushes or wipers for the purpose.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a cash-carrier track, a cash-carrier, and a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of my wiper or duster showing the same in position upon the upper track. Fig. 3 shows a vertical section on the line a:a: of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a plan view of the wiper. Fig. 5 is an end view of the same. Fig. 6 showsthe invention as applied to the gravity-ball system. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a ball equipped with a wiper or brush. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line yy of Fig. 7.

As shown in the drawings, 2, 2 represent brackets or yokes supported in any suitable manner and in turn supporting the two threerailtracks forthe going and returningcarriers. The arrangement of these rails or rods 3, one at the top and two at the bottom of the track, is common and the carrier 4 may be of any desired construction, the same being provided with the usual stop pins 5 arranged to open the switch at its destination. Such carriers are operated by the continuously running cord or cable 6 operating beneath each track, the cash-carriers being connected therewith byan adjustable clutch 7. The wiper or brush device adapted to run over a track of this construction is composed of the sheet-metal box 8 having the open sides and top, and the bottom 9, the edges of which are cut in to allow the small vertical brushes 10 to bear upon the lower wires or rails 3. The ends of the box or tray are provided with notches or slots 11 which embrace the top wire 3 and prevent the tray or box from slipping side-wise off the wires. The notched ends are re-inforced by notched plates 12 secured thereto by screws 13 which plates may be renewed as they become worn. The small brushes 10 are secured in the sleeves 14 fastened upon the ends of the angle-pieces which have their inner ends adj ustably and pivotally secured upon the ends of the body by short bolts 16. By thus pivoting the arms of the brushes I am enabled to make them adjustable to any of the ordinary tracks, the distances between the rails of which, vary somewhat. After the brushes are set they are locked in position by simply tightening the bolts 16. Smaller brushes 17 extend horizontally inward and parallel with the ends of the tray. They are secured upon similar pivot arms lSlocked by bolts 19 and the ends of these brushes preferably overlap with respect to the center wire so that both sides and the top and bottom of said wire are thoroughly scoured or wiped by said brushes as the body or box is carried along the track. The tops of the side or hot- I tom wires are cleaned by the vertical brushes 10. For clamping the body upon the cable 6 I provide the two jaw-pieces 2O pivoted on the end of the tray by the screws 21 and having the curved form shown. Each is provided with a curved slot 22 in which the pin 23 upon the short spring lever 24 operates. When the lever is thrown down the jaws are depressed and separated, and the lever being released are tightly closed upon the cable. The lever is returned by the coiled spring 25 upon its shank 26. This shank 26 is held in small boxes 27, either formed integrally with the tray or body or made apart of the blocks 28 screwed to the end of the tray. The blocks 28 carry the steps or pins 29 which being placed in the extreme position are adapted to pass all of the switch lugs of the system except that at the main return station. The wiper will therefore, when once started, be carried over the full length of the cable 6 passing over both the upper and lower tracks of the entire system.

In addition to the small brushes 10 and 17 I provide the large cylinder brush 30 secured on the longitudinal stud 31 projecting from the forward end of the body. The bristles of this cylinder brush are long enough to embrace the three Wires or rails of the track and also the traveling cord or cable and will effectually wipe all parts of the rails not touched by the smaller brushes. Its length also renders its action more thorough. If it is desired to clean the cablethe wiper is held stationary and the cable allowed to run through the brush 30. When parts of the cylinder brush become worn after considerable use in one position the brush is turned to bring new parts into engagement with the rails. In this way one cylinder-brush is made to last for many months. lVhen the smaller brushes become so much Worn as to be ineffective the bristles are withdrawn and new ones inserted.

Where the gravity ball cash-carrier system is in use I construct the body in the form of a solid ball 32 of heavy wood or metal and attach a drag brush 33, thereto, by means of the arms 35 connected by the short stay bars 36 and provided with the bearing cups 37 within which the ball is held and is adapted to revolve.

It is obvious that my invention may be adapted to use upon any of the known cashcarrier systems by simply arranging the brushes or wipers upon a device of a similar form to the cash-carrier used upon the track of the particular system. I do not therefore confine myself to the particular constructions shown and described.

In practice the wiper is preferably used onlyat stated times during the day at which times the covers are spread upon the shelves and counters to protect the goods from the dust precipitated by the passage of the wiper over the overhead track. This practice I consider the best as the small quantity of dust collected during the day will not be shaken oit while if the wiper were allowed to run continuously, all that did collect on the rails would certainly be brushed otf upon the counters and the goods thereon.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, of the tracks or rails of an overhead cash-carrier system, with carriers to run thereon, a wiper device provided with horizontally arranged brushes engaging with said rails to clean the same of dust, and common means for propelling said carriers and wiper device, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the upper and lower rails of a cash-carrier track, of cashcarriers to operate thereon, and a wiper also adapted to operate on said track and consisting. of a body provided with vertically and horizontally arranged brushes engaging the rails of said track, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

The combination, with the upper and lower rails of a cash or parcel carrier track, of a body to operate thereon, an operating cable, a clutch upon said body to engage said cable, and vertically and horizontally arranged brushes engaging the rails of said track to clear the same of dust, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with the cash-carrier track and a continuously operating cable, of a body resting upon said track, a clutch thereon to engage said cable, laterally and vertically adjustable vertical and horizontal brushes respectively provided on said body to engage the rails of the track, and a cylinder brush longitudinally arranged upon said body and adapted to engage all of said rails and said cable, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with the cash-carrier track, of cash-carriers to operate thereon, and a wiper'device composed of a body carrying small brushes to engage the rails of said track and provided with a cylinder brush to engage all of said rails, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, in a wiper for cashcarrier tracks, of a body adapted to rest upon the track and provided with notched ends to engage the upper rail of said track, with the pivot locked arms projecting from the ends of said body, the vertical and horizontal brushes projecting from said arms to engage the upper and lower rails of the track, and means for moving said body, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination, with the cash-carrier track, of the body 8 having the bottom 9, arms 15 and 18 pivoted upon the ends of said body by locking bolts 16 and 19, the vertical and horizontal brushes secured upon said arms and adapted to engage the rails of said track, the longitudinal stud or shaft projecting from the end of the said body, and the cylinderbrush arranged upon said shaft, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination with the three rail track, of the body having the notched ends v and the reinforcing blocks to accommodate the upper rail of the track, vertical and horizontal brushes carried on said body to engage the upper and lower rails of the track, the spring lever 24 pivoted on said body and provided with a pin 23, and the curved clutch parts 20 provided with curved slots to admit said pin, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

9. The combination with the cash carrier track, of cash carriers to operate thereon, a body also adapted to operate thereon and propelled by the same force as said cash carriers, and a non-revolving cylinder brush arranged upon said body to move therewith and clean the track, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of November, A. D. 1892.

JOHN L. MCKAY.

In presence of- O. G. HAWLEY, FRED. S. LYON. 

